Overview

• June 1 will see more than a dozen UNESCO World Heritage sites across Germany unveil special anniversary programs to commemorate the 20th World Heritage Day.
• In Saarland’s Völklinger Hütte and the Schum sites in Rhineland-Palatinate, visitors can join themed tours, exhibitions and musical performances tracing industrial milestones and medieval Jewish heritage.
• Thuringia’s offerings include expert-led hikes through Hainich’s beech forests, free guided walks at Wartburg Castle and special tours of Weimar’s classical landmarks.
• Potsdam will host free family tours of Sanssouci’s Neue Kammern, digital scavenger hunts on Pfingstberg, organ recitals in St. Nikolaikirche and an open-air tango festival.
• Officials note that UNESCO status has become a coveted quality marker—Erfurt recorded nearly 87,500 extra overnight stays from 2023 to 2024—and also brings obligations for site management and preservation.